Fleeing the scene of an accident while drunk lands man in jail

SUMMERSIDE — A West Prince man who fled the scene of an accident and was later caught, drunk, behind the wheel, was sentenced Thursday to 10 days behind bars.

George Eric Wagner, 50, pleaded guilty in Summerside provincial court to impaired driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Shortly after 10 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2012, RCMP were called to the Ellerslie Legion after receiving a report of a hit-and-run accident in the parking lot.

Witnesses identified Wagner as being the driver of the run vehicle. The witnesses told police that Wagner was driving his truck and backed into car before leaving.

Police later found Wagner’s vehicle in the ditch about 500 feet from his home. Wagner was still behind the wheel.

He provided breath samples of 220 and 210 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, more than double the legal limit.

Wagner was taken into custody for the night. He has no previous record.

His attorney, Matt MacFarlane, said at the time of the incident Wagner was going through difficulties at home and in business, noting his client went to the legion that night and, as Wagner put it everything “flown to pieces.”

“This is very out of character for Mr. Wagner,” said MacFarlane.

The lawyer noted that Wagner purchased the damaged car from the owner, giving him $1,900 for the car that the man purchased two days earlier for $700.

In addition to sentencing Wagner to a total of 10 days in jail, Judge Jeff Lantz fined the man $1,500 and ordered him to pay $275 in victim surcharges.